Book Reviews: Jill Mansell, Jennifer Crusie & Shannon Hale

Want to add some reading material to your summer vacay? Or just looking for something new to read? Here are 3 books I’ve finished recently and my reviews. (PS…I’m not a professional book reviewer. My reviews don’t go into depth or provide any real depth into the book other than whether or not I enjoyed it and whether or not I would recommend it. I don’t want to spoil the book for you. Goodreads.com provides my in-depth synopsis for you.) 🙂

Austenland by Shannon Hale
Goodreads.com Synopsis: Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man—perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars. I’ve always felt that sometimes I was born in the wrong country. I find myself reading/drawn to books set across the pond. This one being no different. This book takes Jane Austen-ism and throws it into modern day time. Well, modern day until Jane finds herself thrown “back into time” in the land of Austen-ism. Great, fun read! Especially if you are an Austen lover!!

Be Mine by Jennifer Crusie
**Note: This is a book comprised of 3 short stories, one of them written by Jennifer Crusie.**
Goodreads Synopsis: Sizzle by Jennifer Crusie
Business takes a backseat when successful ad executive Emily Tate meets Richard Parker. He’s an accountant who’s been sent to keep her in line and under budget in her ad campaign for a sensual new perfume called Sizzle. And if Emily’s not careful, she could well melt in Richard’s hands.

Too Fast to Fall by Victoria Dahl
For Jenny Stone, driving is her escape-from her past, her problems, her quiet life in Jackson Hole. But after Deputy Nate Hendricks stops her-again-for speeding, she could lose more than just her license. She could lose her heart. Nate seems to think that Jenny should replace her love for fast driving with something even more…heart pumping. And despite her need for speed, Jenny’s never been one for defying the law.

Alone With You by Shannon Stacey
When waitress Darcy Vaughan’s friend asks her to help out with the launch of a fledgling restaurant, she’s happy to oblige. Little does she know the owner is Jake Holland, the perfect guy who slipped through her fingers after their one night of passion. But for Darcy and Jake, one touch was just not enough.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars. I love anything written by Jennifer Crusie. I love anything recommended by Jennifer Crusie (see this post). So I knew I was going to love this book, and I had a feeling I was going to love the other 2 authors tagged in with her. All 3 stories were light and fun. All 3 stories picked up speed really quickly and finished with ease. Highly recommend this set! (And again, anything written by Jennifer Crusie…I think I’ve read nearly everything she has written.)

A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell
Goodreads.com Synopsis: It’s been a while, but Lara Carson’s back in Bath and lives are set to change as a result. Because Lara left her family and boyfriend Flynn eighteen years ago without a word to anyone. Why has no one heard from her since? Her childhood best friend Evie is thrilled Lara’s back and able to share her happiness. Evie’s about to walk down the aisle with her dream man, Joel. Or so she thinks… Then there’s Flynn Erskine, even more attractive now and stunned to see Lara again. The spark between them is as strong as ever, but how’s Flynn going to react when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him? Oh yes, there’s a lot of catching up to be done…

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars. Another one of my favorite authors. Jill’s books aren’t quick reads, which for me is nice because I read extremely fast and sometimes I get disappointed when the books aren’t thick. 😉 I want my stories to be long. lol Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. Again, another “cross the pond” read. I loved Lara and her friends and family. I loved the stories that crossed paths with each other. I just enjoyed the entire book. It had romance, laughs, an edge of mystery, sadness all wrapped into one. Another book I highly recommend!

Currently Reading:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
I am probably 1/3 of the way through this book. I picked up another book that I was itching to read which I why I’m not any further than I said I was last time. 😉 LOL I do have to finish this one this week cause next week is our twitter party! (Literary Junkies Online Book Club) I am liking the book though. Very interesting to read a book through the eyes of a dog.

Want to check out some of my other book reviews?
Find The Lightbearers and The Wishing Tree here.
Find Diamond in the Rough, Ex and the Single Girl, The Fortune Quilt, Casual Vacancy, Gone Girl and The Silver Linings Playbook here.
Find The Paris Wife, Ketchup is a Vegetable and Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves, Every Crooked Nanny and Knit Two here.

Don’t forget to sign yourself up to participate in the Blast from the Past Blogger Swap! It’s for all those that miss things from their childhood! 😉 Girl Talk anyone?